Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Retrofit Tool: Calculation of Performance Change of System Components
Retrofit Tool: Calculation of Performance Change of System Components
Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 2
Frame of content ...................................................................................................................... 2
The Diagram ............................................................................................................................. 2
3.1 System conditions ............................................................................................................ 3
Component calculation ............................................................................................................ 3
4.1 Specification of the system .............................................................................................. 3
4.2 Compressor ...................................................................................................................... 3
4.3 Heat exchanger................................................................................................................. 3
4.4 Pipes ................................................................................................................................. 3
4.4.1 Suction and discharge line............................................................................................ 3
4.4.2 Liquid line ..................................................................................................................... 4
4.5 Control Valves................................................................................................................... 4
4.6 Expansion valve ................................................................................................................ 4
1
Retrofit Tool
Introduction
Designing a new refrigeration system or just retrofitting the existing system is the first question
to be answered.
Due to the huge number of new refrigerants this can be challenging and time consuming.
The Retrofit Tool will support with a fast calculation of the change in performance and
temperatures. This will help in evaluating possible impacts and fact-based decisions.
Frame of content
Since refrigerants have limited range of application temperature there is a limited number of
refrigerants and limits for inputs.
The Diagram
A circuit with its main components only will give a focused view and keep the number of
information to the most relevant.
2
Retrofit Tool
Component calculation
All calculations are individual and therefore independent of each other. No system balancing is
done. All calculations assume that the existing system is correctly sized.
4.2 Compressor
The compressor calculation is based on a theoretical model based on reciprocating compressor
that includes efficiency calculation based on losses.
A real compressor optimized for refrigerant and application range can therefore give different
results.
The model shall be good enough to give a trend of impact comparing two refrigerants.
This change of mean temperature difference is based only on the impact of glide with the
selected refrigerant.
4.4 Pipes
The pipes are compared assuming the same diameter and allowed pressure drop per length.
Based on this the change in capacity / mass flow is calculated.
3
Retrofit Tool
A reduction of capacity will increase the velocity and can create to high pressure drop and by
that losses with impacts directly the compressor.
Lowering capacity stands for increasing velocity. A too high velocity should be avoided because
of dynamic effects like accelerated liquid e.g. when switching solenoid valves. But also flash gas
can happen if losses due to velocity are too high.
A thermostatic element has been designed for a specific refrigerant. The element can be used
for alternative refrigerants only within a small band of pressure/temperature change.
Via the setting screw a TXV can be adopted to the new refrigerant if the required re-setting
value is not higher than maybe 3 K. Else it is not recommended, and the valve need to be
replaced by another one having the correct element.